Please let me dispel any suggestion of ‘free’ medical care with or without ‘yellow book’ or ‘pink ID’ card. This posting is about personal experience THIS week so is factual and accurate.
Earlier this week I was rushed to hospital at 0530 with severe chest pains and out of control blood pressure.
On arrival at the nearest hospital – a Thai Municipal Hospital – I was put on a trolley and taken to a sort of ‘triage’ room. Over the next couple of hours I had a covid test, an ECG, an X-Ray, blood test, pain injection, several blood pressure/pulse readings and was connected to a heart monitor.
When the doctor had all the results it was strongly advised I stay in hospital at least overnight. They did not have a private room available so I was put on a medical ward.
In the afternoon I was given an antibiotic drip and several tablet medications.
The following morning I was again given an antibiotic drip and several tablet medications.
Fortunately, my condition improved and I was allowed to be discharged later that day – may I add with several packs of medications to control my condition.
Anyway now to the main point – before discharge we had to pay the bill. Someone from the Accounts Office came to see us [my wife had stayed] and presented the bill. We asked directly if a ‘yellow book’ or ‘pink ID’ would have affected the bill in any way. The definite answer was ‘NO’ – they have no relevance except possibly proof of address.
So there you have it – a direct answer from a Thai Municipal Hospital within the last 24 hours.
By the way – the bill for all that diagnostics, treatment, drugs, overnight accommodation with food [which looked good but I was a little out of it and not hungry], hospital clothing, drugs to take home etc. was 3,959 Baht.
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